Minerals
A “Sputnik Moment” in Deep Sea Mining
China’s deep-sea mining deal with the Cook Islands raises the stakes in critical mineral competition, with the United States at risk of falling behind. In February, the Cook Islands announced a...
The Ukraine Mineral Resources Agreement – A Strategic Partnership in Progress?
The Ukraine Mineral Resources Agreement that was rejected by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has potential, but further safeguards are needed to prevent abuse. I. Introduction The Ukraine Mineral Resources Agreement, initially...
Mark Twain Would Understand the Venezuela vs. Guyana Crisis
Humorist Mark Twain reputedly wisecracked that “history never repeats itself but it rhymes.” Twain would instantly grasp the recent news out of the Caribbean Sea, which rhymes, imperfectly, with events that...
Restraint Will Be Impossible Without Critical Mineral Independence
To maintain a strategic advantage in the twenty-first century, the United States is going to need minerals, and lots of them. Where these minerals come from will have a dramatic...
Kim Needs to Smile: North Korea Sits on $10 Trillion in Minerals
Here’s What You Need to Remember: In May, South Korea’s infrastructure ministry invited bids for possible infrastructure projects in the North, including those concerning the resource sector. It reportedly sees such...
Lithium, Not Oil: The Clean Energy Revolution Will Reshape Global Geopolitics
After supporting former U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to relax Obama-era auto emissions standards, automaker General Motors (GM) shocked industry observers last month after announcing it would seek to sell...
North Korea is Sitting on $10 Trillion in Minerals, But Can’t Afford to Extract Them
Here’s What You Need To Remember: Mining is hard. It’s even harder when your country is under crushing international sanctions. Who needs rockets when you have $10 trillion in resource riches?...
Higher Metal Concentration on Moon Provides New Clues to Origin
According to the leading hypothesis regarding the formation of our natural satellite, an early Earth collided with another planet-sized body some 4.5 billion years ago, and the rubble from that...
The Trillion Dollar Battle Over North Korea’s Rare Earth Elements Is Just Beginning
Here’s What You Need To Remember: It is no exaggeration to consider that the “Art of Negotiation” also applies to rare earth elements. If Washington isn’t serious about the rare earth...
The Geostrategic Importance of Outer Space Resources
The world may be heading towards the greatest mining rush in history—in outer space. Falling costs and greater access to space launch services, coupled with new technologies, are leading to...
North Korea Has Trillions of Dollars in Mineral Wealth
Key point: If Washington isn’t serious about the rare earth resources of North Korea, then the winner, once again, could be Beijing. When looking at contemporary geopolitics, often energy and related...
Wanna Know Why Kim Jong-Un Is Smiling? He’s ‘Sitting’ on Trillions of Dollars.
Key point: South Korea estimates the value of the mineral resources of its North Korean neighbor at $2,800 billion. In comparison, the GDP of South Korea was about 1,530,75 trillion in...